Capsule and device for processing of said capsule

Abstract

The present invention refers to a capsule containing at least one aromatic substance, for production of a beverage by means of its crossing by a pressurized fluid flow and comprising at least one closing element retained in a removable union with at least one of the construction elements of the capsule. Said closing element may be reliably removed from its initial retention by means of applying at least one given actuation force exerted by means of a respective device used for extraction of a beverage from the capsule.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Capsule ( 1 ,  1 ′) containing at least one aromatic substance for producing a beverage by means of its crossing by a pressurized fluid flow, built by at least one construction element including a zone ( 2 ) facing at least the pressurized fluid flow upstream, characterized in that it presents at least one closing element ( 5 ) retained in a respective element fixture ( 6 ) of substantially corresponding cross section, by means of a removable union whose removal liberates said element fixture ( 6 ) as flow passageway. 
     
     
         2 . Capsule according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each closing element ( 5 ) is removed from the removable union by means of applying a certain actuation force (F) and/or a retention force (R), preferentially directly upon the respective closing element ( 5 ), so that it is substantially surrounded by the pressurized flow. 
     
     
         3 . Capsule according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that it is provided with at least two closing elements ( 5   e ,  5   s ) disposed preferentially in respective zones ( 2 ,  3 ) facing the flow upstream and downstream, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . Capsule according to any of  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that at least one closing element ( 5 ) is retained in a respective element fixture ( 6 ) by means of two removable unions, to be removed sequentially, preferentially along the flow direction, by means of applying one, in each case respective, actuation force (F). 
     
     
         5 . Capsule according to any of  claims 1  to  4 , characterized in that the retention of the, at least one, closing element ( 5   e ,  5   s ) in at least one respective element fixture ( 6   e ,  6   s ), is carried out by means of an union friction locking and/or positive locking. 
     
     
         6 . Capsule according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the, at least one, closing element ( 5   e ,  5   f ) is disposed seating upon a respective element fixture ( 6   e ,  6   s ), preferentially provided as a corresponding step ( 7 ) in the closing element ( 5   e ,  5   s ) that sits upon part of the element fixture ( 6   e ,  6   s ), preferentially upon a denting ( 8 ) provided in the latter. 
     
     
         7 . Capsule according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the union by means of positive locking is carried out by means of at least one protuberance ( 7 ′), or locking element of the male type, that locks together with a corresponding cavity ( 8 ′), or locking element of the female type, provided in the side face of the closing element ( 5   e ,  5   s ) and/or of the element fixture ( 6   e ,  6   s ), respectively. 
     
     
         8 . Capsule according to any of  claims 6  or  7 , characterized in that the step ( 7 ), or protuberance ( 7 ′), is configured as substantially flexible, in particular to deflection, more preferentially at least in a respective peripheral zone. 
     
     
         9 . Capsule according to any of  claims 1  to  8 , characterized in that the closing element ( 5 ) is provided in two element parts ( 5   a ,  5   b ) in interaction with each other in such a way that, by means of applying at least one actuation force (F), preferentially along the flow prevailing direction, these element parts ( 5   a ,  5   b ) are displaced so as to release at least one flow passageway through the zone ( 2 ) facing the flow upstream and/or the zone ( 3 ) facing the flow downstream. 
     
     
         10 . Capsule according to any of previous  claims 1  to  9 , characterized in that the closing element ( 5 ) is produced in a different material, preferentially less rigid, than the material of the element fixture ( 6 ) in which it is retained, particularly preferentially in a biodegradable material. 
     
     
         11 . Device ( 10 ) for the extraction of a beverage from a capsule ( 1 ,  1 ′) according to any of the  claims 1  to  10 , comprising at least one fluid injection ( 11 ) and/or at least one infusion discharge ( 12 ), characterized in that the fluid injection ( 11 ) and/or the infusion discharge ( 12 ) is configured and dimensioned in such a way as to exert a mechanical actuation force (F Me , F Ms ) upon one, in each case respective, closing element ( 5   e ,  5   s ) and/or a mechanical retention force (F Me , F Ms ) upon at least part of the zone ( 2 ,  3 ) facing the flow upstream and/or downstream, in such a way that the combination of these results equal or superior to the actuation force (F) necessary to remove at least one in each case respective removable union from the in each case respective closing element ( 5   e ,  5   s ). 
     
     
         12 . Device according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the combination of forces and period of application thereof is sufficient to displace the closing element ( 5   e ,  5   s ) along an extension such that it is released at least one flow passageway section through the zone ( 2 ,  3 ) facing the flow upstream and/or downstream. 
     
     
         13 . Device according to  claims 11  or  12 , characterized in that the format or dimension of the cross section of the fluid injection ( 11 ) and/or of the fluid discharge ( 12 ) correspond substantially to the format and dimension of the in each case respective closing element ( 5   e ,  5   s ). 
     
     
         14 . Device according to  claims 11  to  13 , characterized in that the fluid injection ( 12 ) is dimensioned at least in its extension, and provided with such a distribution of passageways ( 9 ) over its perimeter, so as to generate a previously defined initial distribution, preferentially radially asymmetrical, of the fluid flow inside the capsule ( 1 ,  1 ′). 
     
     
         15 . Device according to any of  claims 11  to  14 , characterized in that the mechanical force (F Me , F Ms ) is, together with the hydraulic force, equal or superior to the actuation force (F) necessary to release the closing element ( 5   e ,  5   s ) from the, at least one, removable union with the zone ( 2 ) facing the flow upstream and/or the zone ( 3 ) facing the flow downstream, preferentially to release at least one respective flow passage section.